Jesus Christ is in charge of building the church. Now Christ builds each church uniquely, and we see that in the church of Philippi, for it started by a river and with a number of women. But it’s never good to compare ourselves with other churches, for God has His hand on us and He will build us in the way, the time and for the purposes He wants.
On the way to a place of prayer Paul casts a demon out of a girl. This causes great commotion in the city. The magistrates have Paul and Silas whipped and then placed in stocks. These godly men are suffering for the Lord, but they are singing and praying, for they know that God is working all things together for good. God answered their prayers with an earthquake. The chains fell off, the doors were opened, and the head jailer was frightened. But Paul was concerned about the jailer. And the jailer was humbled and was fearing God. At that midnight hour, he is convicted and desperate, and he said, “What must I do to be saved?”
Paul tells the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Now we know that the jailer was saved for we see it in his changed life: that he washed Paul and Silas’ wounds, that he fed them, was baptized, and rejoiced in the Lord. Jesus Christ then, in His own way, was building the church in Philippi. But Paul, in thinking about what would be best for the new little church, doesn’t want to walk away like a criminal. The magistrates hear that Paul and Silas were treated wrongly, and they go and admit their wrongdoing to these men. Paul and Silas then leave, and go back and encourage the new little church, telling them of God’s great and amazing work.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
